Horror Author Kit Mann #Interview
Kit Mann Interview
1. Congratulations on the release of your horror novel A Distant Whisper! Can you please tell us a little about it?
Ya know. I am proud of that novel for personal reasons. Professionally, it is a bit outside my comfort zone, with the romance story that weaves throughout. But there is a wild story behind that novel and how it came to be. The story itself is about a man who has kind of lost himself, until he meets a woman who changes his perceptions of what love is…and then tragedy strikes. He begins seeing her as a ghost, even though she is still alive….and the ghost has a message for him that leads him to some big decisions.
2. Can you give us a little peak behind the curtain? What is your writing process like? Are you a pantser or plotter?
I plot. I don’t understand how you can’t, really. I know people that pants it and they ALL, invariably, hit road blocks and plot holes and contradictions – it’s my experience that plotting and outlining and committing to the story, keeps me from giving up and moving on to something else. It’s an investment. Also, there are FAR less revisions to do when you’re done, because you have been faithful to your story arc from the beginning. But hey, that’s how I do it. I have an extremely specific process for outlining and doing character profiles before I even start writing. I don’t write a word until I have a beginning and an end. I know where I need to go and THAT enables me to get there more efficiently and it enables me to have a high daily output. If you don’t have to worry about what to do next, it makes the writing so much easier.
3. What have you learned about self-publishing that you wish you knew before starting the process?
I went into with my eyes open. I have some traditional publishing experience, so I knew the obstacles. There are two things that I wish others would know, however and that is…Put some money behind your work. The biggest difference between Trad and Indie publishing is the marketing and final product. Pay for a professional editor and pay for a cover designer. And, if your goal is to sell books, then realize that you must invest in marketing. It doesn’t always mean an investment of money. It could be time. But the less money you have for marketing, the more time you will have to spend and vice versa. There it a lot more to marketing without a budget than sitting on Twitter all day begging other authors to buy your books. I know that my next book will have a FAR different approach than I had with DISTANT WHISPER. I have a marketing strategy and I have hired an amazing cover artist and an editor with more of a horror background.
4. What was the first horror book you ever bought?
Not counting children’s books? First adult book that I ever bought was THE EXORCIST. In fact I can quote you from my bio: "The first book I ever bought with my own money was The Exorcist. My junior high school (that's what middle school was called back then) principal took it away from me, tore it in half and handed me a Bible.
And then he called my mom.
My grandmother, seeing how distraught I was, took me to a used bookstore and told me I could spend $2.50 for any of the $0.50 paperbacks that were in there.
I bought the Exorcist again. Amityville Horror. Ghost Story by Peter Straub. Salem's Lot by Stephen King and an Edgar Allan Poe anthology. And I was hooked…..
6. Just for fun: Would you rather spend a night in The Overlook hotel with Jack Torrance or the high school gym during prom with Carrie?
Probably the Overlook. I think I could take him. Carrie always freaked me out. There was something about her that actually gave me the willies. I think I could kick Jack’s ass though.
7. What are some of your hobbies outside of writing and reading?
I play the guitar. I think I am pretty good. I used to play in front of people, but now it’s more of a meditative thing. I pick it up and everything else just fades away. I play disc golf in the summer and I like working in the yard and building stuff for the house.
8. What’s next for you? Any projects you can discuss?
My next book is DRAW BLOOD and it’s back to traditional horror for me. Its an old west Vampire story with kind of a True Detective eeriness to it. eArcs will be available in September and we’re shooting for release in late October. By Halloween for sure.
9. Where can people find you online?
Instagram and I have a Patreon page as well.
10. Last chance! Anything else you’d like to say?
I appreciate you letting me ramble here. I love that there are people out there that are into supporting horror or whatever genre they dig. As writers, when we do things to help each other, it makes the process of being indie more enjoyable. There are already so many people trying to kill your dreams because they are jealous. It is nice to have support. That all being said, my goals in 2021 are to connect more with READERS through the internet and in person. We have extremely high hopes for DRAW BLOOD and am already getting some amazing feedback. Unlike A DISTANT WHISPER which was more of a personal thing for me to publish, the next three books are all aiming at the traditional horror reader. I can’t wait!
Author Kit Mann